重要的福音信息：救赎
彼得前书一章3至9、18至21节
3愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父神！他曾照自己的大怜悯，藉耶稣基督从死里复活，重生了我们，叫我们有活泼的盼望，
4可以得着不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残、为你们存留在天上的基业。
5你们这因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得着所预备、到末世要显现的救恩。
6因此，你们是大有喜乐；但如今，在百般的试炼中暂时忧愁，
7叫你们的信心既被试验，就比那被火试验仍然能坏的金子更显宝贵，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候得著称赞、荣耀、尊贵。
8你们虽然没有见过他，却是爱他；如今虽不得看见，却因信他就有说不出来、满有荣光的大喜乐；
9并且得着你们信心的果效，就是灵魂的救恩。
18知道你们得赎，脱去你们祖宗所传流虚妄的行为，不是凭着能坏的金银等物，
19乃是凭着基督的宝血，如同无瑕疵、无玷污的羔羊之血。
20基督在创世以前是预先被神知道的，却在这末世才为你们显现。
21你们也因着他，信那叫他从死里复活、又给他荣耀的神，叫你们的信心和盼望都在于神。
信息分享
保罗在哥林多前书六章20节指出：「你们是重价买来的。」这里所用的希腊字，是表示去一个买卖奴隶的市场，买回一个奴隶。
我们在加拉太书三章13节看到：「基督既为我们受了咒诅，就赎出我们脱离律法的咒诅。」这里所用的词，是表示已完全付清所买奴隶或物品的赎价，可以永远带他/它离开。
我们在今天选读的经文（18节）看到，我们得赎，是为了得享自由。我们能否将上述这三个意思合并起来呢？
基督来到世上，为我们的罪付上赎价，将我们赎回，永远归给祂自己，并使我们得享自由。难道这不是完全的救赎吗？
终有一天，当祂再来的时候，甚至我们的身体也可在基督里经历完全的救赎（罗八23）。那天将会是何等奇妙啊！
此刻，我们必须紧记我们不再是属于自己，而是属于基督。我们是祂的仆人，祂是我们的主。作仆人的，不会逆主人的意，做主人不喜欢的事。仆人也不能决定自己的岗位，他只能听从主人的指派。我们如何在每天的生活中应用这些原则呢？我们是否愿意凡事听从我们的主人──耶稣基督呢？当记着：我们是耶稣基督用祂的宝血，重价买来的，所以我们是属乎主，而不是属乎自己。
牢记：
神不用付出甚么便可以创造我们，但祂却要付上独生子的性命来救赎我们。
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL REDEMPTION
1 Peter 1:3-9, 18-21
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Message
At least three Greek words were used in the New Testament to convey the full meaning of this wonderful English word, 'redemption'. A simple definition of the word is 'to buy back'.
In 1 Corinthians 6:20 Paul said, 'You are bought at a price.' Here the Greek word means to go into a market place where slaves are sold and to make a purchase.
In Galatians 3:13 we read, 'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.' In this case the word means to buy so as to take off the market forever, the person or thing purchased.
Now in today's reading (v.18) we are told we were purchased in order to be set free. Can we put all this together?
Christ came where we were, paid the price for our sin and bought us as His own forever, with the additional purpose of setting us free. Isn't that a complete redemption?
Some day, at His return, even our bodies will experience the fullness of our redemption in Christ (Romans 8.23). What a wonderful day that will be!
In the meantime, let us remember we are not our own. We belong to Christ. We are His servants, His bondslaves. A bondslave belongs wholly to his master. He may not do the things his master does not desire. A bondslave does not decide his position. The Master does. How do these principles apply in our lives today? Are we really making ourselves available to our Master, Jesus Christ, for whatever He wants to do in and through us each day? We are not our own - we have been bought with the price of Christ's precious blood.
REMEMBER - CREATION COST GOD NOTHING. OUR REDEMPTION COST GOD HIS SON.